Snowmass Lake - If you backpack once this summer, make it to a location worth the hike. Snowmass Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. The lake basin was formed when a glacier flowing down Snowmass Creek Valley became thick enough to overtop the adjacent ridgeline. Looking down at the area that 39 years ago was a good sized lake!
[14] By the end of July, the total number of bones recovered was around 36,000, from at least 52 different Ice Age vertebrate animals. [2] This site preserves multiple alpine ecosystems stacked on top of each other within sediments of ancient alpine lake. Also represented in the Ziegler Reservoir are the remains of seven megafauna taxa.
[26] Uranium-series dating of vertebrate fossils confirmed the age range of 45,000-140,000 years; however, the extremely low uranium concentrations limited the utility of that method. The science television series Nova broadcast an episode [24] about the site in February, 2012. Between May 15 and July 4, 2011, crews from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science conducted a large scale fossil excavation alongside construction crews building a dam for the reservoir.
Fossil sedge and willow leaves were still green, conifer cones were still intact, and large driftwood logs were preserved. In total over 36,000 vertebrate fossils (including mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, horses, camels and deer), more than 100 species of fossil invertebrates and over 100 species of fossil plants were found in sediments deposited by an alpine lake during the last interglacial period. Snowmass, CO – Lake Snowmass Lake (10,980 ft) is an alpine lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness accessed at the junction of the Maroon-Snowmass Trail and Geneva Lake Trail, below Trail Rider Pass.From the lake are views of Snowmass Peak (13,627 ft), Hagerman Peak (13,841 ft) and Snowmass Mountain (14,092 ft). [1][22] The fossil flora offer unprecedented insights into plant biogeography of the Rocky Mountains during the last interglacial period. [19], The speed at which the fossils were recovered (more or less seven weeks) is remarkable for a scientific dig of this size. The Snowmastodon site, also known as the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site, is the location of an important Ice Age fossil excavation near Snowmass Village, Colorado.Fossils were first discovered on October 14, 2010 during the construction of a 5 hectare reservoir to supply Snowmass Village with water. [23], The site is also important for the exceptional preservation of fossil material. [2] The onset of winter caused the site to be closed for five months beginning November 15. This 16-mile hike is best enjoyed with a picnic lunch and plenty of water in your pack. While this area does get very crowded, if you show up early enough, you're almost guaranteed a camping spot. [25], Several dating techniques were employed in order to determine the age of the ancient lake sediments. More than 600 bones and 130 plant, rock, and invertebrate samples were recovered, including the first mastodon skull ever recovered in Colorado (unearthed a mere day after the beginning of the excavation) and the first remains of a Jefferson's ground sloth to be found in the state. Showy cone flowers below Snowmass Lake.
[28], Sediments containing terrestrial and aquatic mollusks and ostracods span 130,000 to 87,000 years ago. [21] These taxa represent a diverse assemblage of fauna belonging to the Rancholabrean North American Land Mammal Age. [25] Over time, the lake filled in with wind-blown sediments until it became a marshland and ultimately an alpine meadow. Being underwater helps preserve the fossils and the reservoir can be drained if ever the need arises for additional excavations. [2], A $10.5 million dam for the reservoir was scheduled to be completed by mid-October 2011, with the site was expected to be underwater by November 2011. Start the hike from the Maroon Snowmass Trailhead and continue 8.5 miles to Snowmass Lake. [29] These taxa indicate that the ancient lakeshore was a shallow, well-vegetated, fresh water wetland during the time periods sampled. "[18], Scientists are not concerned now that the site is covered by water after completion of the reservoir expansion. [28] These fossils are the oldest known Pleistocene high elevation insect faunas from the Rocky Mountains. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/maroon-snowmass-trail Chunks of ice and snow would calve off of the icy glacier that was now Snowmass Lake and flow down into Snowmass Creek and out to sea. [2] In addition, the mollusks and gastropods showed color, and beetle parts were still iridescent. [31] The majority of wood fossils came from the “beach” horizon at the lake margin.
[2] Vertebrate fossil material was in excellent condition as well.[2]. [26] The dates obtained via OSL correlate with the end of the Bull Lake glaciation and the Sangamon interglacial stage, spanning marine isotope stages 6 through 4.[27]. [2][1] When the excavation resumed on May 15, 2011, museum crews had 7 weeks to complete the excavation in order for the reservoir project to be completed on time. [16] Other new animals recovered included an Ice Age camel, a horse, and various smaller vertebrates. [13], Excavations resumed during spring of 2011, from May 15 to July 4, with the support and permission of SWSD and the State of Colorado. Fossils were first discovered on October 14, 2010 during the construction of a 5 hectare reservoir to supply Snowmass Village with water. Preliminary efforts concluded on November 14, 2010 when the arrival of winter prevented any further excavation. The next morning, Kit Hamby, the district manager for the Snowmass Water and Sanitation District (SWSD), contacted a contractor from the Colorado Geological Survey who contacted the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS). Crews from the Denver Museum, U.S. Geological Survey, and several other institutions work alongside bulldozers for two weeks in order to salvage the increasing number of fossils being unearthed. Snowmass Lake is a lake in Colorado and has an elevation of 10,988 feet. [25] After Doug Ziegler and his family purchased the land that now contains the Ziegler Reservoir, they commissioned the construction of a small earthen dam in 1961 to block the meadow drainage and form a shallow, private lake that persisted until the Snowmass Water and Sanitation District bought the water rights in 2010. [8] The excavations were led by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, together with the U.S. Geological Survey and scientists from at least 19 institutions. [21] The smaller vertebrate species include: trout, frog, salamander, snake, lizard, duck, goose, pheasant, crane, finch, shrew, river otter, bear, coyote, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel, beaver, mice and other small rodents. Kirk R. Johnson, leader of the Snowmastodon Project on behalf of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, told the New York Times, "The speed of this thing is so unlike normal science — from discovery to completion of one of the biggest digs ever in less than nine months. [7] For that reason, any paleontological excavation had to be done quickly. Our tent squeezes into an area surrounded by logs and tall trees above Snowmass Lake. The lake was thawing out throughout the day, which was actually really fun to watch. What I would consider one of the prettiest lakes in all of Colorado, Snowmass Lake features unbelievable views of the Snowmass peaks (Snowmass Peak, Snowmass Mountain, and Hagerman Peak), pristine blue water, and great camping. This longer hike is the best way to soak in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness’ largest (and perhaps most spectacular) alpine lake will alleviate any sore muscles. Species of fir, Douglas fir, spruce and pine were represented. [26] Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages obtained from the fine-grained quartz provided reliable, replicable ages for the sediments within the established 45,000 – 140,000 time frame. The Ziegler Reservoir occupies an unusual geologic setting on top of a ridge 2705 m above sea level.
Other megafauna recovered included giant bison, two deer-like animals, and more mammoths. [29], A diverse assemblage of plant macrofossils and pollen was collected during Snowmastodon.
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